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Statement from the CHC Chair and former Chairs on the Nomination of Felix R. Sanchez for the Board of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting

March 6, 2023

WASHINGTON, D.C.- Today, Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) Chair Nanette Barragán , and former Chairs Raul Ruíz and Joaquín Castro, issued the following statements on President Biden's announcement that he has nominated Chairman and Co-Founder of National Hispanic Foundation of the Arts, Felix Sanchez to serve as a member of the Board of Directors for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Sanchez has been a priority nominee for the current Chair and the two most recent Chairs of the CHC.

"President Biden's nomination of Felix Sanchez to be a member of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting is a major step forward that will increase Latino representation at the top levels of broadcast programming and media. Sanchez's work at the National Hispanic Foundation of the Arts has served to advance the presence of Latinos in the media so we are confident he will continue to do on CPB's board. Latinos continue to be the largest contributor to U.S. population growth and our public programming should reflect this reality. It is critical that Latinos continue to gain seats at the table to craft the broadcast narrative and on-air representation of our communities. The CHC will continue to press for Latino representation in spaces that shape information and entertainment in order to make for a more diverse and inclusive media environment that allows decisionmakers with common backgrounds to determine how our community tells our stories," said currentCHC Chair Nanette Barragán.

"Congratulations to Felix Sanchez, a veteran communications expert, on his nomination to serve as Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting," said Congressman and former CHC Chair Raul Ruiz, M.D. "For far too long, the voices of Latino communities have been excluded from the narratives we see on our TVs and hear on our radios. With Sanchez's nomination, we take a step forward on the long road of representation for Latinos and Latinas across the country. I applaud President Biden's decision and urge the Senate to confirm this nomination swiftly."

"Felix Sanchez has worked for years to increase Latino representation in American media, and I cannot think of a more deserving person to receive President Biden's nomination to the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting," saidCongressman and Former CHC Chair Joaquin Castro. "Throughout his career, Felix has fought to expand opportunities for Latino professionals in the industry and worked to make diverse content more widely available to minority communities across the country. I am confident his leadership will help public broadcasting reach new heights, and I hope the Senate moves quickly on his confirmation."

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